Blazing Saddles – Movie Quote

By Reggie's Take on November 3, 2012

Bart: Excuse me while I whip this out…
[People cringe back and a woman screams – he pulls out a letter – people sigh, almost sounding disappointed]
Bart (continuing): By the power invested in me by the honorable William J. Le Petomane–
[People start cocking guns and pointing them at Bart]
Bart (continuing): I hereby assume the duties of sheriff in and for the township of Rockridge.
Reverend: Gentlemen, gentlemen, let’s not let anger rule the day! (waving Bible) As your spiritual leader, I implore you to pay heed to this good book and what it has to saaaayyy!
[A hole is shot through the Bible; the Reverend turns to Bart]
Reverend: Son, you’re on your own. (exit Reverend)
[The people are about to shoot Bart at his opening speech – until he takes himself hostage]
Bart (gruff voice, hauling himself by the collar): Hold it! The next man that makes a move, the nigger gets it.
Dr. Johnson: Hold it men–he’s not bluffing! (all but one man drop their guns)
Dr. Samuel Johnson:Listen to him men, he’s just crazy enough to do it!
Bart (gruff, to the one with a gun still): Drop it, or I swear I’ll blow this nigger’s head ALL OVER THIS TOWN!
Bart (pickaninny voice): Oh, Lawdy-Lawd, he’s desp’at! Do what he say, do what he saaaayyyy… do what he saaaayyyy…(the man slowly drops the gun)
Harriet Johnson: Isn’t anyone going to help that poor man? [Bart is slowly moving towards the sheriff’s office, still holding himself hostage]
Dr. Samuel Johnson: Hush, Harriet! That’s a sure way to get him killed!
Bart (pickaninny voice): Oh, Oh he’p me! He’p me! He’p me! Somebbody He’p me! He’p me! He’p me! He’p me! (gruff voice) Shut up! [He covers his mouth and pushes his way inside the office] (normal voice, to himself) Oh, baby, you are so talented. And they are so dumb!

Blazing Saddles / 1974

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Blazing Saddles a 1974 satirical Western comedy film directed by Mel Brooks. Starring Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder, the film was written by Mel Brooks.

The movie was nominated for three Academy Awards, and is ranked No. 6 on the American Film Institute’s 100 Years…100 Laughs list.

The film satirizes the racism obscured by myth-making Hollywood accounts of the American West, with the hero being a black sheriff in an all-white town. The film is full of deliberate anachronisms, from the Count Basie Orchestra playing “April in Paris” in the Wild West, to Slim Pickens referring to the Wide World of Sports.